LOCATION :
Some distances: (Distances and journey times given as a guide).
Avignon 9km, Saint Rémy de Provence 11km, Arles 31km, Salon de Provence 41km, Nîmes 48km, Orange35km, Aix en Provence 70km, Marseille 90 km.
DESCRIPTION:
Located in the heart of the Alpilles, Saint Rémy is one of the Must of Provence. Its verdant, subtly scented valleys, beautiful, tastefully restored houses and charming old streets have all contributed to its success...
As you stroll along its narrow, winding streets, you'll come across beautiful old fountains, small shady squares with pleasant restaurant terraces and elegant boutiques. The beauty of its landscapes and the quality of its light have inspired many artists, writers and painters. The most famous is undoubtedly Vincent Van Gogh, who painted over 150 canvases in the countryside around Saint Rémy de Provence.
A walk through the artist's paintings will reveal the mountain of St Rémy, fields of wheat and poppies, olive trees and cypresses that remain unchanged more than a century later. Saint Rémy de Provence, a town steeped in history, is built on one of the oldest archaeological sites in Europe. The remains of the trading post of Glanum, founded in the 3rd century BC and then reworked by the Romans under Julius Caesar. Lovers of old stone, art and pretty shops will feel right at home in Saint-Rémy. The beautiful properties around Saint-Rémy and the shaded terraces of Place Jean-Jaurès have also been home to some of the world's showbiz celebrities for some years now. Away from the crowds on the coast, artists and celebrities can enjoy the gentle Provencal atmosphere found here in Saint Rémy. As soon as you arrive, it's your turn to be seduced, that's for sure...
It's hard to beat the village, nestling behind a circular boulevard that follows the line of the old ramparts, with its secret, well-painted streets, old houses, hidden balconies, painters' shops, luxury chocolatier and trendy restaurants... Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône) is a beautiful village. Its location adds to its charm: the north of the village is a wet, fertile plain, and the south climbs up to the dry, white rocky slopes of the Alpilles.
A weekend in Saint-Rémy is full of curiosities. The Espace Van Gogh, with its small but delightful cloister, its church - and the nostalgia exuded, paradoxically, by the buildings of the psychiatric hospital still in use. There's also the nostalgia that comes from a walk to the Jewish cemetery, a bucolic and moving reminder of the glorious Judeo-Provençal past.
If you look up into the village, along the dozens of small roads and tracks that surround it, you will discover the hidden splendours of Baroque Provence, the rich and almost arrogant Provence of the 17th and 18th centuries. In the town, the Hôtel de Sade and the Hôtel d'Alméran boast noble, powerful facades. Built from the finest Barbentane or Rognes stone, these mansions boast imposing porches and mullioned windows. A few kilometres further north, Château de Lagoy is another jewel, with its avenues of shining plane trees.
EPHEMERAL CHARM:
The path leading to the Château de Roussan, built in 1701, is a model of its kind. Its parkland is criss-crossed by a canal where geese and swans chatter. It also features a pond with sculpted coping stones and carp, and old greenhouses in the shape of a Saint Andrew's cross. This château-hotel exudes an indefinable - and probably ephemeral - charm.
While you're in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, you should visit Mas de la Pyramide, Lolo Mauron's half-troglodytic estate, where she runs a table d'hôte. At the age of 82, Lolo serves hearty food and tells some great stories, invented or not, but always funny. His magical lair and estate are dominated by a 20-metre-high natural stone column, as incongruous as the rest of the place.
The Alpilles is a particularly favoured region, with 300 days of sunshine a year, its many festivals, art galleries, cultural events, gourmet restaurants, sumptuous stone farmhouses and bastides, where privileged customers who want discretion and authenticity enjoy coming to stay. Home to horses and bulls, olive oil and vines, the Alpilles region is a perfect example of the French art of living. Situated at the crossroads between the Luberon, Camargue and Cévennes, the Alpilles are easy to reach: Saint Rémy de Provence is 15 minutes from Avignon and its TGV station, 30 minutes from Aix-en-Provence and 40 minutes from Marseille international airport.
ACCESS :
From the North: A7 motorway Avignon Sud exit and RN7 from the Rhône valley (18 km), then access via Noves (D30) Noves and direction ST Rémy de Provence.
Lyon 250 km, Valence 140 km. Orange 60 km, Avignon 21 km.
From the south and east: Motorway A7 and A8 exit Cavaillon (17 km) then D99 towards ST Rémy de Provence.
Nice 250 km, Marseille 90 km, Aix en Provence 75 km, Salon de Provence 37 km, Cavaillon 15 km.
From the west: A9 and A54 motorways, exit at Arles or Saint Martin de Crau (17 km).
Toulouse 400 km, Narbonne 220 km, Montpellier 120 km, Nîmes 40 km, Arles 22km).
Avignon TGV station: 20 km, bus connection (00 33 (0)4 36 35 35 35) - Aix en Provence TGV station: 75 km.
Marseille Provence airport: The nearest major international airport to Saint Rémy de Provence, 50 minutes by car (70 km including 41 km on motorway) or 1h30 by TGV.
Avignon Caumont airport: The nearest to Saint Rémy de Provence, 20 minutes by car (18 km). Flights from Paris. Connections by taxi or car hire.
Nîmes Garons airport: 40 km from Saint Rémy de Provence. Connections with Great Britain and domestic flights in France. Connections to Saint Rémy de Provence by taxi on site, or by car hire.
Luxury & charming rentals Ref: 1708
